To think that the police should act more professionally at times?

[Nettlerash]

Just watching coppers as I usually do,alongside other police programmes and the amount of swearing and cussing kind of gets to me. Other people in professions have to act with dignity and respect why shouldnt the police? I really object to some of the names they call people too and the way they handle different situations.

Obviously not all of them are like this but it seems a lot of men especially are. I know they have a really tough job but surely they are supposed to be setting an example to society.

[Altaira]

YABVVVU

Sir, would you be so kind as to desist from kicking me in my testicles, I find it rather uncomfortable...

FFS- it's all about the context, even though it's uncomfortable to watch

[GypsyMoth]

lol!!!

try doing the job...??

[VivaLeBeaver]

I,m sure most police are very good, lots of my family are coppers so am not a police basher. But have seen some very aggresive police on these documentaries. Some lad who was waiting to make a statement was arrested cos he dared moan about having to wait for an hour. Hr was there to help, hadn't been violent or rude and was thrown to the floor.

[Altaira]

Have to remember with all these docus--it's all in the edit and may not be a true representation of what has happened.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Some copper just smacked a handcuffed man in the face cos he said he didn't want to sit down.

[messybedhead]

I have just watched Coppers (have seen it before) and think the attitudes of some of those policemen is outrageous.

They are completely abusing their power, and I think something radical needs to be done to stop such idiotic bullies!!

[messybedhead]

When he smacks a nice, middle class person in the head for not sitting down, then it will be a different story I suppose.

[messybedhead]

The reason why they are not respected nowadays is because of how they act.

[messybedhead]

Why should a police officer be allowed to use violence, but can arrest you or me for using such violence?

And he wasn't protecting himself, he just wanted the man to sit down.

I wouldn't treat any member of the public like that because it is disgusting; but these people can.

I cannot see any justification for such disgusting behaviour.

[Altaira]

I think in these sort of situations, the police need to come down hard if needed.

Having watched the series, I am amazed at how many people don't follow instructions that the police give them, then are surprised at the consequences. Also that it seems to be acceptable to swear at them and not expect to be arrested.

There will always be some bad apples, but I also accept that in the heat and adrenaline of these events, mistakes may be made.

[lennythelion]

Completly agree with you - I started a thread on this programme in 'Telly Addicts' section. I am most definitely not anti-Polict but I cannot believe the aggression of some of the officers. I felt that they were provoking some of the people and looking for trouble.

[messybedhead]

I am not saying all police by the way, just the egotistical idiots that appear on all of these sorts of police programmes.

[Altaira]

Being aggressive is needed in riot control

[GypsyMoth]

i was a police officer and NEVER camee across coppers like this......think the cameras being there might have alot to do with it

i never had trouble with the general public and respect either!

[messybedhead]

People have the right to protest.

Now, don't get me wrong, I know these events attract the wrong sort of people, who are solely there to cause trouble...

But come on, if I could be bothered to passionately believe in something that I wanted to protest about (as it is my right to do), I may react badly to being shouted at and caged in by the police.

I even might get angry and shout back at them to leave us alone.

Then I'd get smacked in the mouth.

But hey, they are heroes!!

Actually, do you know what, if there was a protest to stop this abuse of power I might be bothered to join in.

[messybedhead]

UM being aggressive usually leads to people being aggressive back.


I'm sorry but as parents, we agree it is wrong to be aggressive and violent as we would be abusing our power.

As a teacher, a care worker, any other position in society... there is no need or room for aggression or violence.

Why are they allowed to do it?

[curlymama]

If a policeman told me to sit down, I'd bloody well sit down!

Police have a very hard job to do, and they regularly come up against hostility when thay have done nothing wrong. They probably have to pre empt it to a certain degree to gain any control over a situation. Police are very respectful to the public when the public are respectful to them from what I've seen.

[messybedhead]

I've seen it in the street, about 6 or 7 police officers swoop on an elderly man riding his bike on the pavement.

They were shouting and being aggressive, and when a few members of the public asked if there was any need for such behaviour... they themselves were verbally attacked and told to cross the street or be arrested.

Of course a sensible person would (and they did) back off and leave well alone.

BUT...

The police were acting like bullying thugs.

[coolascucumber]

A close family member had a documentary crew with his police unit for quite a few weeks. He spent that time avoiding appearing on camera and said it was only the team twats vying to spout off in front of the camera. The end result was not a true reflection of the work they do, showed officers not following proceduce and was quite cringeworthy.

TV shoes don't show the time he had to retrieve body parts following a bombing, stop a man from setting himself alight when doused in petrol, resusitating drunks who have inhaled vomit, been spat on, could go on but won't. Wherever you go in life you'll find twats if you look for them.

Didn't see this episode of Coppers but thought the one that showed the repeat drug offenders was something that should be played in our secondary schools. It showed the complete destruction of their lives through their stories and mugshots. Officers treated the drug addicts with respect.

[bumpsoon]

I think in the sort of situation on the series tonight where you have two very large groups of people who want to do each other serious harm ,it probably raises the adrenaline quite a bit in the officers ,also look at the number of police versus protestors , they are in the minority and rely on the general public behaving ,some dont and some get arrested. It is quite possible that in the heat of the moment , a police officer will feel threatened by the mob and pull the wrong person from the crowd, which possibly explains why so many people were later released. Personally i would hate to do their job ,being terrified of large 'mobs' of people. As others have mentioned the programme is edited . Thought the traffic police episode was excellent though .

[newwave]

Shock, Horror, SOME of the Police are violent thugs in uniforms.

Blair Peach, Menzes, Tomlinson, death by restraint, dragging a woman across a floor, deaths in custody.

What galls me is they ALWAYS get away with it.